Richmond council adopts 12-month moratorium on data centers

The Richmond City Council voted Feb. 16 to adopt Resolution 2026-4, imposing a 12-month moratorium on the establishment, erection, construction and installation of data-processing and computer centers within city limits.

City management told the council the city’s zoning ordinance (last major update in 2005) does not specifically define modern data centers and lacks tailored standards for setbacks, landscaping and nuisance mitigation related to high-performance computing. The city manager said the moratorium "is for a defined period of time so that we can give us time to do a little bit more research, look at best practices other communities are putting in place." (City Manager)

During discussion council members noted Richmond’s limited acreage and said the city is unlikely to host the very large, hyperscale facilities often covered in regional press, but could see smaller enterprise or colocation operations. Council members described the moratorium as a proactive pause that will allow staff and elected officials to draft supplemental standards should the city receive applications.

The resolution was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. No vote tally by name was recorded in the public minutes. The resolution directs staff to study zoning and possible supplemental regulations over the 12-month period.

The council did not adopt development standards or changes to zoning at the meeting; the moratorium merely temporarily prohibits new data-center installations while the city completes its review.

Next steps: staff will report back with research and recommended zoning language for council consideration before the moratorium expires.